Automatic acetylene-generator.



. KLENGK.

AUTOMATIC A-GETYLEN E GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 7. 1913.

Patented 0013.27, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEEI' 1.

THE MORRIS PETERS Co.. PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGmN, n. C

if. H. KLENGK.

AUTOMATIG AGE'IYLENE GENERATOR.

APPLIUATION FILED JANJ, 1913.

1,1 14,772. Patented out. 27, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

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UNITED sTATEs rATENT oEEioE,

JOHN HL KLENCK, 0E WARREmPENNsYLvANIA.

AUTOMATIC AcnTYLEnEbeEN-Ennrona spe-einbauen ofterfers Patent.

ratentedfoctrav, 1914.

Application ledJannary.- 73, 1913; Serial No. 740,632'.

and useful Improvements in Automatic Acetylene-Gas Generators, of whichftflie following is a specification.

the object of' myinventionl is to provide z`I` aA generator particularly adapted for use upon automobiles, motorcycles' and other self-propelled vehicles.-

A further obj ect of my invention is 'to-pro-v vide agenerator in which the' gas is gener-fk atedl at or very nearly at atmospheric pressure or any higher predeterminedpressurewithinreasonable limits and in! which!l the gas pressure is maintaine'dat a certainipoint' without*- any perceptible variation, whethertheg'as in` the generator isbeing used ornot, this being accomplished byV automatic .regulationI of:

the valve controlling the flow of waterto` the carbid A further objectief my inventionis to aufY tomatically govern the opening and1 'closimg'V of this valve by the gas'l pressure within the generator, thus doing away with-'the unequal generation of gas ,in vehicle carried gen-v erators, due tothe passage of the vehicle atvv timesover smooth roads and at-other` timesv over rough roads and! in which the g`enera--- tion of gas is controlled wholly-'byA settings of the water valve,'-as it is'impossible to set thewater valveto uniformly generate gafs under varying conditions.

A further object of my invention is to:

provide a" generator in which the gas isnot have anyappreciable effect' upon-r the lights because of its expansion, thus dispensso construct the generatorthatl the pressure operated, valve controlling mechanism, may

be readily adjusted irl-such' a manneraseto" permit the generation-of gas ait-anydesi-redl pressure.- One o the chief5 advantages off this latter constructionFis-thai'l ifthe burners lng with the necessity o wicks, distributors,- gas bags and the like' commonly employed? to prevent flickering'ofy thelamps.l` Anda still further object of my invention isto :of the lamps-becomeclogged,` gas may be generatedi under I relatively high' pressure l.andthen admitted tothe burner tubes to lblow the-foreign matter from the burners I and clean the same. ,y

j invention-- will be-more1 fully described, illust-'rated- )in the accompany-ing' drawings, and their specifically pointed out inr the claims ji which are attacher-liteK and for-mf a part of u this application. n In theI drawings-:Figure 1- isa centra-lver` :tical sectionalviewy ofi my improved acety-l lene gasgenerator, thek sect-ion being'. taken on-V the linefll of F ig. 2'; Fig; 2' is a top plair view of the' generator ,Figa 3 f is a transverse sectional-view onl the line'' of Fig; 1; Fig. 4;" is a top plant view of' thec'arbid hold-ing. por-tion ofi the'- generator, the water` reservoir, together with the pressure controlled valveI mechanism, being removed; Eig: 5= is: as sectional view similar to that `form of: construction including4 an automatic safety? val've for relieving the pressure the! generator when-it'becomes too great, the Water supply*valvelbeingshownin open po sition andthe safety valvein closed posisk tiong-Fig-G isa-fragmentary sectional'view similar to-that'lshownfm Fig. 5,-but with the' water valve` closedI andf the safety valve opentv 1 y Corresponding andilikef parts are referredto' inv` the? `following"l description and indi-Y catednl inil all theLL views o-f the'fdraW-in'gslby the? samereferenoe characters. 'ILhepr'eferred embodin-Ientlof my gas"k generator,. as a' Wh'ole, consists of?` a cylindricalbody member 10 including? aflower' body mein-ben 11i closed-at its lower end asshown ati 12 *andi forming the carbid receptacle and :upper body member'- 131c'losedf atits upper andv lower endsfassliownat'lil and 15 and1 formingthe' water.I reservoir of the generatorll lini constructingr the body# members'l 11 and-18', said" members areeach preferably spun`orotherwise formed in a"i single piece,

afterwardbrazed or `soldered f in place. The 'r'ee edge:portionofl thebody member 11` is thickened or"brac`ed as'shownA at 16, while drawn or' otherwise formedj-to'f-fprovidea groove ori' channel 1-7- in? whlchz isseated a pacling ring* lto'unsur'ef-a closef and gasthe bottom 15y of the member 13 being-l" i the outer edge off the bottom is stamped,

With these and other objectsfinv-iew, my f shown: in Fig.' 1'-, butI illustrating a modified 9oy y 10o l l l the sleeve which seats by its lower end upon when placed in superimposed position as shown in Fig. l. l I

rEhe body member 11 is provided adjacent its upper end with pairs of diametrically located, perforated ears 19 between which are pivoted bolts 20, the free ends of which are screw threaded for engagement by winged nuts 21. The body member 13 of the generator is provided at its upper end 21 are tightened to firmly clamp the mem-` bers together, the 'upwardly directed ter` minals 23 of the ears 22 serving to absolutely lock the bolts 20 against outward swinging when'the nuts are once turned home.

The body member 11 is provided inter mediate its length with an interiorly formed annular rib or shoulder 24 forming a seat for the carbid holder proper 25. This carbid holder includes a cylindrical sleeve or shell closed at its lower end by a foraminous screen 26, preferably formed integral with the rib or shoulder 24v and extends with its upper edge spaced somewhat below the upper end of the lbody member 11. At the upper end of the shell are diametrically disn posed inwardly vdirected handles 27 by means of which the carbid receptacle may be removed from the lower body member 'of the generator.` By spacing the lower end of the carbid receptacle proper above the bottom 12 of the generator, 1 providev `a space below the receptacle for the ashes or spent carbid which, because of the vibration of the generator when used upon motor vehicles, will sift through the screen 26, nothing but fresh carbid being presented to the flow of water from the reservoir as will be hereinafter explained.

VThe top 14 of the generator is provided at one siede with a iilling opening normally closed by a plug cap 28 and the bottom 15 of the water reservoir yis provided centrally with an outlet port 29 through which water may pass to the carbid, this port being surrounded by a downwardly depending annular flange 30 to protect the, same from spattering carbid through vthe gas generation. The valve by means of which ifthe flow of water through this port is controlled and the automatic mechanism for controlling the valve will be later fully explained.

Extending upwardly from the top 14 of the generator and at one side thereof, is a cylindrical shell 31 closed at its upper end and communicating directly with the water reservoir at its lower end and a pipe 32 having a relatively small bore extends at one end through the bottom 15 of the water reservoir and at its other end into the shell 31,'termina'ting a short distance below the top thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of thedrawings. This pipe and shell 31 provide means for thepassage of the generated gas from the lower portion of the generator to the space in the water reservoir above the water therein and also prevent any danger of leakage of water into the carbid receptacle as the extending of the pipe into the shell above the top of the generator prevents all splashing of water into the upper end of the pipe. A second pipe 33 of relatively ylarge diameter extends vertically through the ybody portion 11 of the generator communicating by itslower end with the carbid chamber when the generator is assembled and with its upper end opening through the top 14. Positioned within the lower portion of this pipe 33, is a conical screen of foraminous material 34 and immediately above this a transversely extending screen 35, these screens serving to remove minute impurities from the generated gas before its passage to the lamp burners. Threaded into the upper end of the tube 33, is an outlet valve 36 of the usual or any preferred type for controlling the flow of gas from the generator,.this valve being provided with a nipple 37 for connection with they supply pipe or hose, not shown. f

The above is a'description of the general construction` of the generator body proper and this construction is common to both forms of generators illustrated in the drawings, the differences in construction between the different generators there shown consisting in the various means provided for controlling` the water valve and in the types of safety valves for limiting the pressure 1n the generator.

The form of valve construction, illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings,includes a resilient metal diaphragm 38 brazed or otherwise secured by its edge to the inner face of the top 14 of the generator. The top 14 of the generator is provided with a central opening 42 about which extends an upwardly directed, internally threaded annular flange 43.

The diaphragm 38 carries a sleeve 50 provided at its lower end with an annular flange 51 and intermediate its length with diametrically disposed, longitudinally extending slots 52.y The upper end of this sleeve extends considerably above the threaded collar or flange 43 and is externally threaded to receive a cap 53 provided with a central perforation 54 and carrying a packing disk 55 also provided with an opening registering in the opening 54. A

valve stem 56 extends through this sleeve,

being supportedv therein by diametrically extending pins 57 which pass through the slots 52 of the sleeve, the portion of the valve stem above these pins beingreduced as shown at 58 andthe upper' endy ofthe valve stem being formed with a conical: terminal 59 seating in the valve seat yformed by the openings in the cap andi` packing disk 55, the valve stem being normally held in this position by a coiled spring 60 surrounding the sleeve 50 and bearing between the flange 51 thereofand the pins 57. The lower end of the valve stem 56 is provided with a centrally formed threaded bore 61 to receive the threaded shank 62 of a valve 63 and the outer end of the bore 61 is lcounterbored at 641 to provide an annular of the bottom' 15 ofV the watery reservoir.

The valve proper seats against the lower face of the bottom 15 and in fully open position, the stem seats on the bottom 15 to protect the valve mechanism from injury should the upper end of the stem be struck;

A relatively heavy coiled spring 66 is held in place upon the diaphragm and aboutthe sleeve and properly tensioned by a cap 67 having a setnut 68, the sleeve being movable through the cap. A winged collar 69 is threaded upon the upper end of the sleeve 50' below the cap 53 and may be turned to raise the sleeve through engagement with the cap 67, although its normal function is to limit downward movement of the sleeve. The collar 69, cap 67 and spring 66 areso adjusted that gas will be generated at the normal pressure and this adjustment is not to be broken unless gas at a different pressure is desired.

When the generator above described and illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6.of the drawings, is not in use, the collar 69 is turned down against the cap 67 to raise the sleeve 50 and consequently the valve stem 56, the latter being held in raised position with respect to the sleeve by the spring 60, to maintain the valve 63 in closed position. When gas is to be generated, the collar 69 is loosened and the cap 67 turned down to compress the spring 66 and forceA the diaphragm 38 downwardly. Inasmuch as this diaphragm is connected to the sleeve 50 and inasmuch as the cap 53 carried by the upper end of this sleeve engages against the upper end of the valve stem 56, the downward movement ofthe diaphragm will open the valve.

The gas generated in the carbid receptacle` valve 63.

carbid and water, aportion lof this gas passing through the pipe 32 and into the waterl reservoir above ythe water, the pressure inboth portions of the generator be `the diaphragm .38 upwardly to raise the sleeve and, `becausel of the spring 60 engaging between the flange 51 'of the sleevel and j pins 57 of the valve stem, to raise thevalve andclose the same. As soon as gas has' been 1 drawn from the generator in sufhc'ient quantities tolower the pressure below norymal, the spring 66 will immediately move ythe valve toopen position again and admit ymore waterl to Vthe generator.

rea-son, they gas pressure continues to increase after the closing of the valve, the diaphragm willbe further raised and 'as the valve stem cannot move higher, due tothe engagement of the valve 63, in its seat, it will be apparent that the cap 53 carried by If for anj7 the upper end of the sleeve will be moved awayi from the terminal 59y of the valve stem, which infeffect forms a seco-nd valve,rk to permit the escape of gas through the opening 54. Asy soon assuliicient gas has escaped in this manner, to reduce the pressure to normal, the springl 60 will immediately force the sleeve back and close the safety valve. :[tfwill be apparent that with this construction, the springr 60 may be so proportioned as to permit the opening of the safety valve only when pressure in the 'generator becomes dangerousand that all fother variations in pressure may be gov- ,erned by` a suitablek adjusting of the cap 67 the same as with the 7generator' shown in Figs. y1 to 3 of the drawings. words, the safety valve is intended merely as a device for rendering the generator absolutely safe and fool proof.y It will there- In other fore be apparent that the supply of water Ifrom the reservoir to the carbid is entirely automatic, `being governed absolutely by the pressure of the gas generated and that gas will therefore be generated lonly as it is needed for use;

Gas may be generated at any desired pressure in the generator above describedby a proper adjustment of the cap 67 to suitably tensionthe spring 66 as the more this spring is compressed the greater will be the 'pres-` sure in the generator'necessary to close thev In Fig. 1 Ihaveillustrated j form of generator in which the diaphragm wardly through the top of the generatorand whichis externally threaded as shown. The lower end of this sleeve is provided withy an outwardly directed flange 71 to which the my preferred y y j 12.5' -38 carries a sleeve 70 which extends updiaphragm is attached and is closed with the of gas, the lower end of which carries a valve 73 similar to the valve 63 and similarly mounted. Threaded upon the upper end of thesleeve 70, is the safety valve cap 74 perforated at 7 5 and carrying a perforated packing disk 7 6, these parts being identical in construction with the parts 53, 54 and 55 ofthe. device shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and coacting with the conical valve terminal 77 of the valve stem 72. The upper end of the valve stem 72 is threaded as shown at 78 to receive an adjusting nut 79 and surrounding the valve stem and bearing by one end against the closed end of the sleeve andl by its other end against the nut 79, is a coiled spring 80. A second and relatively heavy coiled spring 8l is positioned about the sleeve 70 bea-ring by one end against the diaphragm and by its other endagainst an adjusting cap 82 similar to the cap 67 previously described. A winged collar 83, threaded upon the sleeve 70, takes the place of the collar 69 of the structure shown in Fig. 5. With this form of construction the valves 73 and 77 are both normally closed. l/Vhen gas is to be generated the cap 82 is threaded down to compress the spring 8l and so move the diaphragm 38 downwardly, this movement of the diaphragm acting through the sleeve 70 and its cap 74 to force the valve stem 72 down and open the valve 78, the safety valve 77, in the meantime, remaining closed. lVhen sufficient gas has been generated its pressure in the upper part of the generator will force the diaphragm 3S upwardly to close the valve 73, the valve 77 still remaining closed because of the pressure of the spring 80. If, however, the pressure in the generator becomes too great, the diaphragm 38 will be forced upwardly still farther to further raise the sleeve against the tension of both the springs 81 and 80, as the valve stem 7 2 cannot move up and to thus open the valve 77 and permit the escape of excess gas. After the generator has been adjusted to generate gas at the desired pressure, the adjustment of the cap 8:2 andv spring 81 is not to be changed unless it is desired to change the pressure at which the gas is to be generated.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have provided an acetylene gas generator' which when once started is entirely automatic in its action and which will constantly maintain a supply of gas at any desired pressure, within the limits 'of' its capacity, irrespective of whether any gas is being drawn from the generator or not. Because of this, the generator is far more economical in use as there is practically no waste of gas and therefore no waste of carbid.y It is furthermore useful because of the fact that a supply of gas may be always kept in the generator and the lamps lighted at any time, whereas with other generators now in common use, it is necessary to start the generator and generate a certain amount of gas before the lamps can be lighted.

It will of course be understood that I do not wish in any way to limit myself to the specific details of construction as shown in the various figures of the drawings and described in the specification as changes in their details of construction or in the arrangement of parts, may be made at an time, if desired, without in the slightest degree departing from the spirit of my' invention.

vHaving thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A gas generator includingv a carbid cham-ber, a liquid chamber, means for supplying liquid from the liquid chamber to the carbid chamber, means for supplying gas from the carbid chamber to the liquid chamber, means including a diaphragm operable by the pressure of the gas in they liquid chamber for governing the supply of liquid to the carbid chamber, and a safety valve operable by the diaphragm te permit the escape of gas from the liquid chamber if the pressure in the latter becomes abnormal.

2. A gas generator including a carbid chamber open at its upper end, a closed liquid chamber imposed upony the carbid chamber and forming a closure therefor, and bottom of said liquid chamber being provided with an opening, a diaphragm secured to the top of the liquid chamber, a sleeve secured to the diaphragm, a valve stem yieldably supported by the sleeve and carrying a valve adapted to close the opening in the bottom, means for exertingdownward pressure upon the diaphragm, and means for drawing said sleeve upwardly. j

3. A gas generator including a carbid chamber open at its upper end, a closed liquid chamber imposed upon the carbid chamber and closing the same, the bottom of the liquid chamber being provided with an opening, a diaphragm secured to the top of the liquid chamber, a sleeve carried by the diaphragm and movable therewith, a valve stem yieldably supported by the sleeve and carrying a valve for closing the opening in the bottom of the liquid chamber, said valve stem being `free for limited movement independent of the sleeve, means forexerting downward pressure upon the diaphragm, and means operable to force the diaphragm `and sleeve upwardly against said pressure to close the valve, said means being operable to further force the sleeve upwardly, the valve remaining closed.

4. A gas generator including a carbid chamber, a closed liquid chamber imposed upon the carbid chamber, means for supplying gas from the carbid to the liquid chamber, means for supplying liquid from the liquid chamber to the car-bid chamber, said means including a valve stem provided at each end with a valve, one endof said stem extending through the to-p of the liquid chamber and the other end of said stem eX- tending near the bottom thereof, a sleeve closed at its upper end to provide a valve seat for the adjacent valve, said sleeve being supported bythe valve stem, but free for slight independent movement, a diaphragm secured to the top of the liquid chamber and to the sleeve, and means for adjustably eX- erting downward pressure upon the diaphragm to hold the sleeve and valves in lowered position.

5. A gas generator including a carbid chamber, a liquid chamber mounted upon the carbid chamber and having a top and bottom provided with openings, a threaded collar surrounding the opening in the top, a diaphragm secured to the top and extending over the opening therein, a sleeve partially closed at its lower end carried by the diaphragm and extending through the top, a valve stem provided at each end with a valve, one of said valves coi-acting with the opening in the bottom, a cap threaded upon the upper end of the sleeve and co-acting with the valve at the yother end of the stem, said cap being provided with an outlet port, a second cap engaging loosely about the sleeve andhaving threaded engagement with the collar, a coiled spring positioned between the second cap and diaphragm, a locking collar threaded upon the sleeve, a nut adjustably threaded upon the upper portion of the valve stem, and a coiled spring bearing between said nut, and the partially closed lower end of the sleeve.

In testimony whereof I aiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. KLENCK.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

